Camera body with integral strap connector

Abstract

Couplers that are configured to engage with an attachment point on a camera or lens. Following general camera construction, the attachment points are typically found on the bottom of the camera or lens. The attachment points may be specifically configured to engage with the couplers. The couplers may be freely rotatable relative to the camera to prevent binding or tangling of a camera strap to which the couplers are connected.

I claim: 
     
       1. A camera connector for coupling with a threaded socket of a camera and for use with a camera strap having a connector, the camera connector comprising:
 a threaded shaft sized to threadably engage with the threaded socket of the camera along an axis of rotation; 
 a base portion coupled to the threaded shaft to rotate the threaded shaft upon rotation of the base portion, the base portion including an outer surface configured for permitting a user to grasp the base portion and apply a rotational force thereto to selectively engage the threaded shaft with the threaded socket of the camera, the base portion having a base portion cavity, an upper wall portion extending at least partially over the base portion cavity and a base portion aperture extending upward through the upper wall portion; 
 a rotatable portion rotatably coupled to the base portion and extending upward therefrom, the rotatable portion being configured to rotate relative to the base portion about the axis of rotation, the rotatable portion being configured for vertical displacement between a first position and a second position, the rotatable portion having an upper portion sized to pass through the base portion aperture and a lower portion within the base portion cavity and sized to be unable to pass through the base portion aperture with upward movement of the lower portion limited by the upper wall portion so as to limit the vertical displacement of the rotatable portion away from the first position; 
 a biasing member disposed within the base portion cavity configured to bias the rotatable portion toward the second position; and 
 a loop portion coupled to the rotatable portion for rotation with the rotatable portion about the axis of rotation, the loop portion having an aperture sized to receive the connector of the camera strap, the loop portion having a drive portion which is in driving engagement with a loop engagement portion of the base portion when the rotatable portion is in the first position to selectively fix the rotational position of the loop portion and the rotatable portion relative to the base portion with respect to the axis of rotation, and which is out of driving engagement with the loop engagement portion of the base portion when the rotatable portion is in the second position such that the loop portion and the rotatable portion remain rotatable relative to the base portion about the axis of rotation. 
 
     
     
       2. The camera connector of  claim 1 , wherein the second position of the rotatable portion is above the first position of the rotatable portion and the loop engagement portion of the base portion is an upward facing surface of the base portion. 
     
     
       3. The camera connector of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the rotatable portion within the base portion cavity has an upward facing surface and the upper wall portion has a downward facing surface, and the camera connector further includes a friction-reducing washer positioned between and in engagement with the upward facing surface of the lower portion of the rotatable portion and the downward facing surface of the upper wall portion when the rotatable portion is in the second position. 
     
     
       4. The camera connector of  claim 1 , wherein the drive portion of the loop portion includes first and second extending portions extending laterally outward in opposite directions from the rotatable portion, and the loop engagement portion of the base portion includes first and second grooves configured to selectively receive the first and second extending portions, respectively, therein when the rotatable portion is in the first position. 
     
     
       5. A connection system for coupling a camera and a camera strap together, the connection system comprising:
 a camera having a connection cavity disposed in a recessed portion of a surface of the camera, the connection cavity having a locking portion; 
 a connector having a camera connector portion couplable to a camera strap coupling portion, the camera strap coupling portion being couplable to the camera strap, the camera connector portion being sized to be inserted into the connection cavity and releasably secured within the connection cavity by the locking portion: and 
 a sliding plate disposed in the recessed portion configured for displacement between a locked position wherein the sliding plate is positioned in alignment with the connection cavity to restrict the movement of the camera connector portion away from the camera when the camera connector portion is positioned inside the connection cavity, and an unlocked position wherein the sliding plate is not aligned with the connection cavity and permits the camera connector portion to be inserted into and removed from the connection cavity. 
 
     
     
       6. The connection system of  claim 5 , wherein the camera connector portion is pivotably couplable to the camera strap coupling portion. 
     
     
       7. The connection system of  claim 5 , wherein the camera connector portion is rotatable relative to the camera when the camera connector portion is secured within the connection cavity by the locking portion. 
     
     
       8. The connection system of  claim 5 , wherein the locking portion comprises an outer rim portion of the connection cavity defining a connection cavity opening, the camera connection portion being adjustable between a first position having a larger footprint than the connection cavity opening and a second position having a smaller footprint than the connection cavity opening. 
     
     
       9. The connection system of  claim 8 , wherein the camera connection portion is automatically moved from the first position to the second position as the camera connection portion is moved into the connection cavity and the camera connection portion contacts the outer rim portion of the connection cavity. 
     
     
       10. The connection system of  claim 9 , wherein the camera connection portion is automatically moved from the second position to the first position when the camera connection portion is substantially fully positioned inside the connection cavity. 
     
     
       11. The connection system of  claim 8 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the camera connection portion into the first position. 
     
     
       12. The connection system of  claim 5 , wherein the locking portion comprises an outer rim portion of the connection cavity defining a connection cavity opening, and the camera connection portion comprises a locking member configured for displacement between a first position whereat the locking member causes the camera connection portion to have a footprint that is larger than the connection cavity opening, and a second position whereat the locking member causes the camera connection portion to have a footprint that is smaller than the connection cavity opening. 
     
     
       13. A connection system for coupling a camera and a camera strap together, the connection system comprising:
 a camera having a connection cavity with a locking portion; 
 a connector having a camera connector portion and a camera strap coupling portion, the camera strap coupling portion being couplable to the camera strap, the camera connector portion being sized to be inserted into the connection cavity and releasably secured within the connection cavity by the locking portion; and 
 a sliding plate configured for displacement between a locked position wherein the sliding plate is positioned in alignment with the connection cavity to restrict the movement of the camera connector portion away from the camera when the camera connector portion is positioned inside the connection cavity, and an unlocked position wherein the sliding plate is not aligned with the connection cavity and permits the camera connector portion to be inserted into and removed from the connection cavity. 
 
     
     
       14. The connection system of  claim 13 , wherein the camera connector portion is pivotably coupled to the camera strap coupling portion. 
     
     
       15. The connection system of  claim 13 , wherein the camera connector portion is rotatable relative to the camera when the camera connector portion is secured within the connection cavity by the locking portion. 
     
     
       16. The connection system of  claim 13 , wherein the locking portion comprises an outer rim portion of the connection cavity defining a connection cavity opening, the camera connection portion being adjustable between a first position having a larger footprint than the connection cavity opening and a second position having a smaller footprint than the connection cavity opening. 
     
     
       17. The connection system of  claim 16 , wherein the camera connection portion is automatically moved from the first position to the second position as the camera connection portion is moved into the connection cavity and the camera connection portion contacts the outer rim portion of the connection cavity. 
     
     
       18. The connection system of  claim 17 , wherein the camera connection portion is automatically moved from the second position to the first position when the camera connection portion is substantially fully positioned inside the connection cavity. 
     
     
       19. The connection system of  claim 16 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the camera connection portion into the first position. 
     
     
       20. The connection system of  claim 13 , wherein the locking portion comprises an outer rim portion of the connection cavity defining a connection cavity opening, and the camera connection portion comprises a locking member configured for displacement between a first position whereat the locking member causes the camera connection portion to have a footprint that is larger than the connection cavity opening, and a second position whereat the locking member causes the camera connection portion to have a footprint that is smaller than the connection cavity opening. 
     
     
       21. A camera connector for coupling with a threaded socket of a camera and for use with a camera strap having a connector, the camera connector comprising:
 a threaded shaft sized to threadably engage with the threaded socket of the camera along an axis of rotation; 
 a base portion coupled to the threaded shaft to rotate the threaded shaft upon rotation of the base portion, the base portion having a base portion cavity and a retainer portion extending at least partially over the base portion cavity and defining a retainer opening; 
 a rotatable portion rotatably coupled to the base portion and having a first portion retained within the base portion cavity by the retainer portion and a second portion extending away from the first portion through the retainer opening, the rotatable portion being configured to rotate relative to the base portion about the axis of rotation, the rotatable portion being configured for displacement along the axis of rotation between a first position and a second position with movement of the rotatable portion along the axis of rotation away from the first position being limited by the retainer portion; and 
 a loop portion coupled to the second portion of the rotatable portion for rotation with the rotatable portion about the axis of rotation, the loop portion having an aperture sized to receive the connector of the camera strap, the loop portion having a drive portion which is in driving engagement with a loop engagement portion of the base portion when the rotatable portion is in the first position to selectively fix the rotational position of the loop portion and the rotatable portion relative to the base portion with respect to the axis of rotation, and which is out of driving engagement with the loop engagement portion of the base portion when the rotatable portion is in the second position such that the loop portion and the rotatable portion remain rotatable relative to the base portion about the axis of rotation. 
 
     
     
       22. The camera connector of  claim 21 , further including a biasing member disposed within the base portion cavity configured to bias the rotatable portion toward the second position. 
     
     
       23. The camera connector of  claim 21 , wherein the loop engagement portion of the base portion is at least one groove in an outward surface of the retainer portion sized to receive at least a portion of the loop portion when the rotatable portion is in the first position. 
     
     
       24. The camera connector of  claim 21 , further including a friction-reducing washer positioned between the first portion of the rotatable portion and the retainer portion. 
     
     
       25. The camera connector of  claim 21 , wherein the drive portion of the loop portion includes first and second extending portions extending laterally outward in opposite directions from the second portion of the rotatable portion, and the loop engagement portion of the base portion includes first and second grooves configured to selectively receive the first and second extending portions, respectively, therein when the rotatable portion is in the first position.